Glossary

Interpreting

Interpreting is the real-time conversion of spoken or signed communication from one language to another by a professional interpreter. It enables participants who speak different languages to understand one another instantly during meetings, events, interviews and conversations.

Description

Interpreting supports direct, human-to-human communication across languages. Unlike translation – which deals with written text – interpreting happens live. It requires linguistic fluency, cultural insight and concentration to accurately convey both meaning and tone.

There are several interpreting modes: simultaneous, where the interpreter speaks almost at the same time as the speaker; consecutive, where interpretation follows each segment of speech; and whispered or remote interpreting, which use technology to connect participants wherever they are. Interpreting is used in conferences, courtrooms, healthcare settings, business negotiations and digital environments such as video calls or webinars. Its success depends on clarity, impartiality and cultural understanding – ensuring every participant experiences the same information and intent.

Example use cases

  • Corporate: Facilitate multilingual collaboration at conferences, workshops and business negotiations.
  • Healthcare: Support accurate communication between clinicians, researchers and patients.
  • Legal: Ensure transparency in hearings, depositions and cross-border legal processes.
  • Government: Enable multilingual participation in diplomacy and community engagement.
  • Remote: Deliver real-time interpreting through digital platforms for virtual or hybrid meetings.

Key benefits

Understanding
Enables instant, accurate communication across languages.
Efficiency
Keeps conversations flowing smoothly without delays.
Inclusion
Ensures everyone can contribute equally, regardless of language.
Quality
Relies on trained linguists skilled in subject matter and cultural nuance.
Quality
Makes global collaboration and events accessible to diverse audiences.

RWS perspective

At RWS, interpreting is more than language conversion – it’s about building understanding in the moment. Our professional interpreters combine linguistic expertise with deep subject-matter knowledge to deliver clear, confident communication across industries.

We offer both onsite and remote interpreting to meet the needs of global organizations. Our secure digital platforms and multilingual events services connect people seamlessly – whether in boardrooms, conference halls or virtual settings. By integrating intelligent scheduling, terminology management and real-time support, RWS ensures accuracy and reliability at scale. Our Human + Technology model blends the precision of trained interpreters with the efficiency of advanced communication tools – enabling instant, meaningful dialogue anywhere in the world.